Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma in happier times. File image
It seems like the high tea meeting which took place at Nkandla will not proceed to Seshego after EFF Julius Malema mentioned that he does not have a relationship with former President Jacob Zuma, who now leads MK Party.
The two leaders have been indirectly at loggerheads after the May 29 national and provincial elections. MKP, which produced shocking results in the polls, beat the EFF, pushing it down to fourth position.
Not only did EFF suffer the defeat, but currently, its members are resigning left and right to join Zuma’s MKP.
Former senior leaders of MKP, Floyd Shivambu, Busisiwe Mkhwebane as well as Dali Mpofu left the red berets to join MKP.
MKP is now the third largest party with only less than a year of being launched.
In 2021, Malema and Zuma had a tea meeting at Nkandla, Zuma’s homestead in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
On Friday, Malema spoke to the media during President Duma Boko's inauguration ceremony in Botswana, addressing the status of his relationship with Zuma at the time.
Reports of high-ranking EFF leaders switching to the MKP accompanied his remarks.
“I don't have any relationship with President Zuma. We are political contenders, he is a leader of a political party, and I am a leader of a political party. That's where our relationship starts and ends.
“Where we agree on issues we will share a common perspective, where we disagree, we will disagree respectfully so,” he said.
Malema affirmed that the EFF will not fall apart not under their watch.
“You cannot destroy that which you have not built. It can't fall apart. It's our own child, it's our baby and we will decide what we do with it. The EFF is the future, and it cannot be destabilised by opportunism,” he added.
He further stated that the current situation will not stop them from attending events like the Botswana presidential inauguration.
Meanwhile, the EFF is preparing for its elective conference next month.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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